Posted on 08/10/2014 2:22:18 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
President Obama made a surprise video appearance at the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Gay Games in Cleveland on Saturday. Joining Greg Louganis, Lance Bass, the Pointer Sisters, and Broadway’s Andrea McArdle and Alex Newell in celebrating the event, Obama said, “Since 1982 the Gay Games have given lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender athletes and supporters around the world a chance to come together to compete, celebrate, and inspire others.”
President Obama, who is vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard, noted how the country has changed since the games began in 1982. “We’ve also seen America change in that time, even since 2006, when the games were last held in the United States in my hometown of Chicago. We’ve come a long way in our commitment to the equal rights of LGBT people here and around the world,” he said.
As international crises continue to dominate the world stage, the president took a break from his vacation and busy golf schedule to record the message for the Gay Games, boasting about his accomplishments on behalf of the LGBT movement since becoming president. ”I’m proud of my administration’s record and of the citizens who’ve helped push for justice.”
The president had a special message for those living in countries that persecute LGBT individuals, explaining what he believes to be the “very idea” of America. “You should know that the United States stands with you and for your human rights, just as our athletes stand with you on the field at these games,” he said. “After all, the very idea of America is that no matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from, or who you love, you can make it if you try. That’s who we are. That’s who we should continually strive to be. ”
Obama wished the athletes well. “We’re also a country that loves competition, so let’s get these games underway. Good luck to the athletes, have a great time in Cleveland and Akron, and go, Team U.S. A.!”
“The Gay Games is thrilled to have President Obama take his time to show his commitment to the Games’ mission of inclusion, participation and personal best,” said Hollie Ksiezyk, co-chair of the 2014 Gay Games.
Fellow co-chair Steve Sokany agreed. ”It was a special moment that no one in the arena will forget and a great way to kick off the exciting Games week,” he said.
Journalist Connie Schultz, wife of Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, tweeted about how deeply moved she and Sen. Brown were by the opening ceremony:
Connie Schultz ✔ @ConnieSchultz
Thanks to crowd at Gay Games opening ceremonies
#InTheCLE. @SenSherrodBrown and I are blown away &
will never forget this night. #GG9
9:22 PM - 9 Aug 2014
17 Retweets 35 favorites
Connie Schultz ✔ @ConnieSchultz
A moment tonight when we were too choked up to speak. Thank
you, #GG9 friends. Let the games begin!
10:25 PM - 9 Aug 2014
8 Retweets 26 favorites
Approximately 8,000 athletes are expected to participate in 36 events over the next week.
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
FWIW: Ohio pings!
Butt 0bama’s not a fag ...
He threw out the first wrist.
Be nice if he attened a church or prayer breakfast...ever.
I’m confused. I thought the LBGTs wanted to be treated like everyone else and not be labeled or categorized.
What a sissy boy.
ya gots to know this a-hole is a mooselimb and a fag.
BHO is a switch hitter so its all good to him.
“I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever.”
— Thomas Jefferson
“I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever.”
— Thomas Jefferson
Yes!
Jeez, what mess. Look at all those sad people. You’d like to think it would occur to them that if hetero sex sucked so bad, maybe theyre doing it wrong?
Of course he’d be there. He’s a (rooster) sucker.
I wonder how many of the participants will be dead in a few years from some sort of “illness”? Play while you can, I guess.
Wha? I thought he was from Hawaii, I mean Kenya, er, Indonesia, oh never-mind.
I understand Nero also enjoyed the, um, bath houses as Rome burned.
The pole vault (and miss).
I don’t think it should have been a surprise that he would show up.
BTW- did he ever make a statement about that General killed in Afghanistan?
‘That’s big of him’: Obama finally gives murdered Maj. Gen. Greene a ‘mention’
Hello Barry
It’s so nice to see you back where you belong…..
You’re lookin’ swell Barry, I can tell, Barry
You’re still __ing, you’re still __ing, you’re still going strong.
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